Question

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
ASSERT
a) agree
b) acquiesce
c) abjure
d) abdicate

Answer 1

Hint: The word ‘assert’ refers to ‘state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully'. It is usually used as a verb and the noun form of ‘assert’ is ‘assertion’.

Complete answer:
The given word can be used in a sentence in the following way:
For example, in the sentence ‘She asserted her authority to maintain silence in the room’, the word ‘assert’ is used as a verb in the past tense. This means that the woman stated something forcefully to show her authority in the mentioned room, and to maintain silence.

Now, we know the meaning and usage of the given word. Let’s look at our available options and go through them one by one:

a) agree - The word ‘agree’ refers to ‘have the same opinion about something; concur'. This word has a very different meaning to the given word. They do not have the exact opposite meaning to each other. This is not the antonym of the given word. It is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
b) acquiesce - The word ‘acquiesce’ refers to ‘accept something reluctantly but without protest'. This word has a completely different meaning to the given word. They do not have the exact opposite meaning to each other. This is not the antonym of the given word. It is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
c) abjure - The word ‘abjure’ refers to ‘solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)’. This word has the exact opposite meaning of the given word. This is the antonym of the given word. It is the required answer. So, this is the correct option.
d) abdicate - The word ‘abdicate’ refers to ‘(of a monarch) renouncing one's throne’. This word has a different meaning to the given word. They do not have the exact opposite meaning to each other. This is not the antonym of the given word. It is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note:
Try to understand the meaning of the given word and the options by using them in a sentence. Then, go through each of the given options and choose the option that has the exact opposite meaning to the given word. Another antonym of ‘assert’ is ‘contravene’.